It is easy to get flustered and make critical mistakes when you discover you are under police investigation or have a direct encounter with officers. Keeping a cool head is essential, but not always easy.
Understanding a little more about common mistakes people make in these situations can help you avoid mistakes.
Replying to police questions
You might assume you are obligated to answer police questions due to the position of authority they hold in the community. Other than confirming your name and address, you do not need to answer their questions, and it is safer that you don’t. At least not without having an attorney present. Remember that anything you say could be used as evidence to build a case against you, even if you did nothing wrong.
Giving police access to property or equipment
There are times when you do need to give the police access to your property or electronic equipment, such as computers and phones. This is when they have a warrant that specifies you must give them that access. Bar that you can just say no, although the police do have the ability to go ahead without your consent in a few exigent circumstances, where they feel immediate intervention is critical. For example, they could push past you and enter your office if they had good reason to believe evidence was being destroyed as they stood outside
Trying to fix things to put yourself in a better light
You are not allowed to do things such as destroy evidence or ring up someone to ask them to lie to the police for you. Doing so could result in charges even if the initial investigation results in nothing.
When the pressure is on, seeking legal guidance should be a priority, as it can help you determine how to act in ways that will facilitate your best interests.
